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CBODN | CALENDAR

Upcoming events

    • 06 Feb 2026
    • 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
    • Zoom
    Register

    PARTNERSHIP SERIES - GRACE UNDER PRESSURE: Dealing With Unexpected Moments In Your Facilitation


    ~ with Abby Yanow, Executive Coach and OD Consultant


    **This program is organized by our partners in the Pacific Northwest ODN Chapter! Join our partners, alongside the Minnesota, Oregon, and Triangle OD Networks for an opportunity for learning and cross-regional connections.

    What do you do when you’re facilitating a meeting and the client or the group springs something unexpected on you? Has your client ever changed the agenda in mid-course? How do you handle that?

    So many of us have had this experience – it’s part of being a facilitator! We need to hone our skills to be prepared – to not freak out, to stay centered and to respond with poise.

    In this unique program, we will hear a few scenarios from the presenters, up to the “cliffhanging” moment. Then, we’ll break into groups and discuss what we would do in their shoes, and how our background and experience influence our choice of interventions. Then we’ll hear what really happened and what the presenters learned from the situation – as well as what lessons we can take away from their experience. Thank goodness it was them and not us! ;)

    Learning Objectives for this Session:

    1. Learn from other consultants and facilitators how to deal with unexpected changes
    2. Gain insight into your reflexive reactions and surface your assumptions about “appropriate” reactions
    3. Learn from each other some strategies for staying present in the midst of confusion.
    • 10 Feb 2026
    • 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
    • Zoom
    Register

    Design Your Odyssey: Gain Fresh Clarity for Your Journey in the New Year

    As we welcome 2026, life offers endless opportunities for growth, purpose, and fulfillment—whether in your career, relationships, personal passions, or overall direction. Yet many of us sense it's time for a shift: deeper alignment, new directions, or simply more joy — without a clear roadmap to get there.

    In this hands-on session, you'll use The Odyssey Plan — a proven tool from Stanford's Designing Your Life course (highlighted in Mel Robbins' Episode 339), to gain renewed clarity and explore three distinct visions for the path ahead.

    Through guided reflection and discussion, you'll answer these three powerful questions exactly as presented by Mel Robbins:

    1. How will your life look if you stay on your current path? (Project forward: If absolutely nothing changes about your current role, routine, habits, where does this lead you in five years?)
    2. If the path you’re on disappeared tomorrow, what would you do?
    3. How would life look if there was nothing holding you back?

    You'll map out these three futures, uncover hidden passions or "unfinished business," and discover small, low-risk experiments to test promising ideas, such as trying a new habit, exploring a fresh interest, launching a project, or adjusting your daily rhythm.

    Leave the session with clear insights and practical next steps to intentionally shape a more energizing, aligned, and fulfilling life as you move forward in the new year.

    Perfect for anyone, leaders, professionals, creators, or everyday dreamers ready to step into 2026 with fresh vision and purposeful direction. Join us for this standalone, inspiring session! 

    Facilitators: Beza Ayalew, Bryan Miles, Friderike Butler

    --

    Source: https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-339/




     


    • 25 Feb 2026
    • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Zoom
    • 8
    Register

    CBODN Mastermind Session

    We all face challenges in our work. Whether you are a leader in an organization, an independent consultant, or acting in any other role, it can often be useful to get an outside perspective when faced with a pressing or ongoing challenge.

    At CBODN, we know that our members each possess a unique and diverse set of personal and professional experiences. In CBODN’s Mastermind Series, we invite you to join our members and tap into the collective wisdom, curiosity, and experiences that our community of practitioners offers. By attending, you will trade ideas and learnings across a variety of organizational disciplines and career situations.

    • For highly seasoned consultants and professionals, consider this a rich opportunity to pass on your hard-earned wisdom to other professionals who may be walking a similar path.

    • For new consultants and professionals, consider this as a safe avenue to develop your consulting muscles by bringing thoughtful curiosity and fresh perspectives.

    • For anyone with a challenge or obstacle in their work (that is all of us!), consider this a valuable resource to become “un-stuck” in your thinking or to find a new idea or direction forward.

    The Mastermind series takes place each month with a new group of participants each session. During Mastermind events, we will use a modification of the Wise Crowds Liberating Structure to form small groups for the opportunity to present your challenge for the other members in the group to ask questions and offer suggestions, OR to participate as a member of the crowd by participating in the format and bringing inquiry, experience, and your unique experiences. 

    For anyone interested in attending, you are fully welcome! Even if you do not have a pressing challenge you are ready to discuss, we encourage you to participate in supporting other members and contributing to the valuable discussions and learning.

    About the Facilitator

    David Kading, MS, ACC is a facilitator, consultant, and executive coach with over a decade of experience in leadership development, experiential learning, and organization development. He is the past president of CBODN (2023-2025) where he launched the Mastermind Series as a way for members to access deeper peer-to-peer learning opportunities in addition to CBODN’s various presenter-led programming options. 

    Important Registration Note, PLEASE READ:

    Mastermind Sessions find the most success when working in small groups. To facilitate this, we will limit the number of attendees to a maximum of 10 participants. Anybody who signs up after the first ten spots will be added to a waitlist for the event. 

    If you sign-up and then find that you are unable to attend, please let us know by emailing admin@cbodn.org and cc’ dkading030@outlook.com. It’s no problem! Life happens. But we will provide your seat to the next member of our community on the waitlist and ensure a fruitful session for attendees.

    Attended Before?

    We have been facilitating Mastermind Sessions at CBODN for the past two years, with dozens of participants acting as “clients” and getting support with their challenges. While we love supporting members through their challenging moments, we’d also love to hear about what happened next in the story! Did you make progress? What role (if any) did the Mastermind experience play in supporting you with your next move?

    If you have participated as a client in a past session and are willing to share, please consider using the collection form https://forms.gle/BUPp2fKrJjF5UHMK9.

    • 05 Mar 2026
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Zoom
    Register

    Reigniting the Workforce: Root Causes and Actionable Strategies for Employee Engagement

    Facing unprecedented dips in employee engagement, organizations are struggling with decreased productivity, high turnover, and significant bottom-line challenges. Engagement is a multifaceted issue.

    This session moves beyond the symptoms to explore the critical root causes: Psychological Safety, Shared Accountability, and Communication Barriers.

    You will leave with simple, yet powerful activities designed to catalyze honest conversation, dismantle barriers, and foster a more inclusive, high-performing culture where both employees and leaders are motivated for success.

    Presenter: Alex Suchman

    Alex Suchman is the CEO and co-founder of Barometer XP, whose mission is to create cultures where people are excited about their work because they feel a strong sense of purpose and belonging. She was a finalist for the Metro DC ATD Award for Excellence in Innovative Learning, has been featured in Forbes and in Kaizen Made Easy’s Top 9 Leadership Conversations, and is a sought-after speaker and thought leader on using play as a tool for organizational effectiveness and employee success.



    • 10 Mar 2026
    • 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
    • Zoom
    Register

    Scale Your Impact, Not Your Stress: AI for Human-Centered Coaches and OD Consultants

    In this session, you’ll learn how to set up simple, custom AI assistants that understand your work, your clients, and your way of thinking—so you can move beyond generic output and use AI as a genuine support tool in your practice.

    You’ll see how to use AI as a thinking partner, helping you clarify ideas, reflect on client work, and reduce repetitive tasks without losing the human element that makes your work effective.

    Through live demonstrations and real examples, you’ll learn practical ways to use AI to enhance client experience, streamline follow-ups, and reclaim time, without adding complexity or tech overwhelm.

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    • How to use AI to support clients without sacrificing presence or authenticity
    • What makes an AI assistant actually useful for coaches and consultants
    • How to reduce admin and cognitive load while improving follow-through
    • A live demo showing how to apply this in real client work
    • Simple templates you can reuse to build your own custom AI assistants

    Presenter — Jason Van Orden

    Jason works with established coaches and consultants who keep hitting the same growth ceilings because too much of their expertise lives only in their head. He helps them reduce repetition, clarify their thinking, and build simple AI support systems that protect their voice and value, so their work can scale without consuming more time or energy.



     


    • 25 Mar 2026
    • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Zoom
    • 8
    Register

    CBODN Mastermind Session

    We all face challenges in our work. Whether you are a leader in an organization, an independent consultant, or acting in any other role, it can often be useful to get an outside perspective when faced with a pressing or ongoing challenge.

    At CBODN, we know that our members each possess a unique and diverse set of personal and professional experiences. In CBODN’s Mastermind Series, we invite you to join our members and tap into the collective wisdom, curiosity, and experiences that our community of practitioners offers. By attending, you will trade ideas and learnings across a variety of organizational disciplines and career situations.

    • For highly seasoned consultants and professionals, consider this a rich opportunity to pass on your hard-earned wisdom to other professionals who may be walking a similar path.

    • For new consultants and professionals, consider this as a safe avenue to develop your consulting muscles by bringing thoughtful curiosity and fresh perspectives.

    • For anyone with a challenge or obstacle in their work (that is all of us!), consider this a valuable resource to become “un-stuck” in your thinking or to find a new idea or direction forward.

    The Mastermind series takes place each month with a new group of participants each session. During Mastermind events, we will use a modification of the Wise Crowds Liberating Structure to form small groups for the opportunity to present your challenge for the other members in the group to ask questions and offer suggestions, OR to participate as a member of the crowd by participating in the format and bringing inquiry, experience, and your unique experiences. 

    For anyone interested in attending, you are fully welcome! Even if you do not have a pressing challenge you are ready to discuss, we encourage you to participate in supporting other members and contributing to the valuable discussions and learning.

    About the Facilitator

    David Kading, MS, ACC is a facilitator, consultant, and executive coach with over a decade of experience in leadership development, experiential learning, and organization development. He is the past president of CBODN (2023-2025) where he launched the Mastermind Series as a way for members to access deeper peer-to-peer learning opportunities in addition to CBODN’s various presenter-led programming options. 

    Important Registration Note, PLEASE READ:

    Mastermind Sessions find the most success when working in small groups. To facilitate this, we will limit the number of attendees to a maximum of 10 participants. Anybody who signs up after the first ten spots will be added to a waitlist for the event. 

    If you sign-up and then find that you are unable to attend, please let us know by emailing admin@cbodn.org and cc’ dkading030@outlook.com. It’s no problem! Life happens. But we will provide your seat to the next member of our community on the waitlist and ensure a fruitful session for attendees.

    Attended Before?

    We have been facilitating Mastermind Sessions at CBODN for the past two years, with dozens of participants acting as “clients” and getting support with their challenges. While we love supporting members through their challenging moments, we’d also love to hear about what happened next in the story! Did you make progress? What role (if any) did the Mastermind experience play in supporting you with your next move?

    If you have participated as a client in a past session and are willing to share, please consider using the collection form https://forms.gle/BUPp2fKrJjF5UHMK9.

    • 02 Apr 2026
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Zoom
    Register

    Building High-Performing Teams in the Age of AI

    Don't miss this practical, human-centered workshop for leaders navigating complexity!

    As AI reshapes how work gets done, many teams are moving faster—but not always smarter. Tools are improving, yet collaboration, trust, and clarity often lag behind. The real challenge isn’t choosing between Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence—it’s learning how to integrate both to build teams that adapt, perform, and thrive.

    This interactive 90-minute, co-facilitated workshop equips leaders and team members with a shared language and practical tools for building high-performing, adaptive teams in an AI-enabled workplace. Participants will explore what truly makes teams effective, where AI can strengthen performance, and where human judgment, relationships, and leadership remain essential.

    Through guided discussion, hands-on experimentation, and real-world application, participants will:

    • Co-create a common vocabulary around the core elements of effective teams
    • Examine how those elements show up (or break down) in workplace dynamics
    • Explore the benefits and pitfalls of AI vs. Human Intelligence (HI) in adaptive teams
    • Experiment with the ATPD Team Assessment Tool to surface strengths, gaps, and opportunities
    • Leave with clear, actionable steps to strengthen team performance

    This session goes beyond theory. It creates space for honest reflection, shared insight, and forward-moving decisions—helping teams align around what matters most while navigating change with clarity and confidence.

    Whether your teams are just beginning to integrate AI or are already feeling its impact, this workshop offers a grounded, human-first approach to building teams that don’t just keep up—but perform at their best.

    Presenters — Marc Stoecker and Shoba Chandran

    Marc is an ICF-accredited coach (ACC), certified Co-Active coach, and Positive Intelligence® practitioner with over 20 years of experience in learning and development and adult education. He is the founder of Prism of Purpose Coaching & Training, where he designs and facilitates soft-skill and technical-skill experiences that help individuals and teams build resilience, clarity, and purpose during times of change.

    Marc’s work blends evidence-based coaching, experiential learning, and embodied practices to create spaces where people can think clearly, reconnect with their worth, and take meaningful action. He supports professionals across corporate, nonprofit, government, and association settings throughout the United States.

    Shoba is a Certified Master Facilitator® (INIFAC), Prosci Certified Change Practitioner, Scrum Master and CTI trained coach; with over 20 years’ worth of experience in the organizational and learning and development fields. She founded Innovation Matrix LLC, specializing in strategy retreats, work-planning, and leadership development.

    Her facilitated workshops create a safe, structured space for tough conversations and clear decisions; teams leave aligned on priorities with owners, timelines, and next steps. She also designs engaging adult-learning programs with real work application and feedback. She co-authored Collaboration by Design, a practical field manual on planning and leading effective workshops. Shoba has worked across Asia Pacific and the United States, serving commercial, government, and nonprofit organizations.

    • 14 Apr 2026
    • 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
    • Zoom
    Register

    Navigating the Valley: Amplifying Resilience Through Community and Skills

    Ever find yourself thinking, “WTF?!” regarding the state of affairs these days? Maybe you feel lost, hopeless, disconnected, and unsure of where to go from here? You’re not alone. These vibes echo across the board, both on personal and organizational levels. Lots of us are having this experience…why not find our way through together?

    Led by your trusty guides, Bryan Miles and Kathryn Snyder, this journey will take you through the twists and turns of this “valley," where the past is a distant mountain range, the future is uncharted territory, and the present is the liminal space in between.

    Using this powerful metaphor, we’ll navigate the emotional impact of these challenging times, build meaningful connections, and equip you with practical skills to help you traverse the valley. Expect interactive discussions, engaging exercises, and focused skill-building sessions that are anything but boring.

    Don’t miss this chance to be in the community and support for the journey ahead. Let's rock the valley together!






     


    • 29 Apr 2026
    • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Zoom
    • 10
    Register

    CBODN Mastermind Session

    We all face challenges in our work. Whether you are a leader in an organization, an independent consultant, or acting in any other role, it can often be useful to get an outside perspective when faced with a pressing or ongoing challenge.

    At CBODN, we know that our members each possess a unique and diverse set of personal and professional experiences. In CBODN’s Mastermind Series, we invite you to join our members and tap into the collective wisdom, curiosity, and experiences that our community of practitioners offers. By attending, you will trade ideas and learnings across a variety of organizational disciplines and career situations.

    • For highly seasoned consultants and professionals, consider this a rich opportunity to pass on your hard-earned wisdom to other professionals who may be walking a similar path.

    • For new consultants and professionals, consider this as a safe avenue to develop your consulting muscles by bringing thoughtful curiosity and fresh perspectives.

    • For anyone with a challenge or obstacle in their work (that is all of us!), consider this a valuable resource to become “un-stuck” in your thinking or to find a new idea or direction forward.

    The Mastermind series takes place each month with a new group of participants each session. During Mastermind events, we will use a modification of the Wise Crowds Liberating Structure to form small groups for the opportunity to present your challenge for the other members in the group to ask questions and offer suggestions, OR to participate as a member of the crowd by participating in the format and bringing inquiry, experience, and your unique experiences. 

    For anyone interested in attending, you are fully welcome! Even if you do not have a pressing challenge you are ready to discuss, we encourage you to participate in supporting other members and contributing to the valuable discussions and learning.

    About the Facilitator

    David Kading, MS, ACC is a facilitator, consultant, and executive coach with over a decade of experience in leadership development, experiential learning, and organization development. He is the past president of CBODN (2023-2025) where he launched the Mastermind Series as a way for members to access deeper peer-to-peer learning opportunities in addition to CBODN’s various presenter-led programming options. 

    Important Registration Note, PLEASE READ:

    Mastermind Sessions find the most success when working in small groups. To facilitate this, we will limit the number of attendees to a maximum of 10 participants. Anybody who signs up after the first ten spots will be added to a waitlist for the event. 

    If you sign-up and then find that you are unable to attend, please let us know by emailing admin@cbodn.org and cc’ dkading030@outlook.com. It’s no problem! Life happens. But we will provide your seat to the next member of our community on the waitlist and ensure a fruitful session for attendees.

    Attended Before?

    We have been facilitating Mastermind Sessions at CBODN for the past two years, with dozens of participants acting as “clients” and getting support with their challenges. While we love supporting members through their challenging moments, we’d also love to hear about what happened next in the story! Did you make progress? What role (if any) did the Mastermind experience play in supporting you with your next move?

    If you have participated as a client in a past session and are willing to share, please consider using the collection form https://forms.gle/BUPp2fKrJjF5UHMK9.

    • 07 May 2026
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Zoom
    Register

    Explore A Self-Managing Organization (SMO)

    Many organizations today feel the strain of hierarchy—slow decisions, overwhelmed managers, stifled innovation, and talented people who disengage because the system leaves little room to lead. Self-managing organizations (SMO) offer a proven alternative, showing that more adaptive and human-centered structures can outperform traditional models.

    Yet many leaders remain unaware that these approaches are already succeeding at scale. This interactive discussion is a session that introduces the core principles and evidence behind SMOs, translating research into practical insight for business and association audiences. The goal is simple: to spark informed curiosity and open a doorway to more resilient, participatory ways of working.

    Deanna Doan will share her in depth research in this area and offer lessons learned from the experience in standing up this type of organization and tips on how to make it work.

    Presenter — Deanna Doan

    Deanna is an enabling partner and co-founder of Eleccion LLC. She has more than 20 years of consulting and leadership experience across government and commercial markets, with expertise in designing and implementing highly decentralized organizations. Prior to founding Eleccion, she was vice president at Allegheny Science & Technology, managing a diverse portfolio of programs across the Intelligence and DoD markets. Prior roles include advising senior intelligence community leaders on strategy and improvement initiatives.

    Deanna holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Virginia Tech, a master’s degree in Operations Research from George Mason University, and is currently a doctoral student at Virginia Tech where her research focuses on decentralized organizational structures. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Lean Six Sigma green belt.

    • 27 May 2026
    • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Zoom
    • 10
    Register

    CBODN Mastermind Session

    We all face challenges in our work. Whether you are a leader in an organization, an independent consultant, or acting in any other role, it can often be useful to get an outside perspective when faced with a pressing or ongoing challenge.

    At CBODN, we know that our members each possess a unique and diverse set of personal and professional experiences. In CBODN’s Mastermind Series, we invite you to join our members and tap into the collective wisdom, curiosity, and experiences that our community of practitioners offers. By attending, you will trade ideas and learnings across a variety of organizational disciplines and career situations.

    • For highly seasoned consultants and professionals, consider this a rich opportunity to pass on your hard-earned wisdom to other professionals who may be walking a similar path.

    • For new consultants and professionals, consider this as a safe avenue to develop your consulting muscles by bringing thoughtful curiosity and fresh perspectives.

    • For anyone with a challenge or obstacle in their work (that is all of us!), consider this a valuable resource to become “un-stuck” in your thinking or to find a new idea or direction forward.

    The Mastermind series takes place each month with a new group of participants each session. During Mastermind events, we will use a modification of the Wise Crowds Liberating Structure to form small groups for the opportunity to present your challenge for the other members in the group to ask questions and offer suggestions, OR to participate as a member of the crowd by participating in the format and bringing inquiry, experience, and your unique experiences. 

    For anyone interested in attending, you are fully welcome! Even if you do not have a pressing challenge you are ready to discuss, we encourage you to participate in supporting other members and contributing to the valuable discussions and learning.

    About the Facilitator

    David Kading, MS, ACC is a facilitator, consultant, and executive coach with over a decade of experience in leadership development, experiential learning, and organization development. He is the past president of CBODN (2023-2025) where he launched the Mastermind Series as a way for members to access deeper peer-to-peer learning opportunities in addition to CBODN’s various presenter-led programming options. 

    Important Registration Note, PLEASE READ:

    Mastermind Sessions find the most success when working in small groups. To facilitate this, we will limit the number of attendees to a maximum of 10 participants. Anybody who signs up after the first ten spots will be added to a waitlist for the event. 

    If you sign-up and then find that you are unable to attend, please let us know by emailing admin@cbodn.org and cc’ dkading030@outlook.com. It’s no problem! Life happens. But we will provide your seat to the next member of our community on the waitlist and ensure a fruitful session for attendees.

    Attended Before?

    We have been facilitating Mastermind Sessions at CBODN for the past two years, with dozens of participants acting as “clients” and getting support with their challenges. While we love supporting members through their challenging moments, we’d also love to hear about what happened next in the story! Did you make progress? What role (if any) did the Mastermind experience play in supporting you with your next move?

    If you have participated as a client in a past session and are willing to share, please consider using the collection form https://forms.gle/BUPp2fKrJjF5UHMK9.

Who We Are

Chesapeake Bay Organization Development Network (CBODN) is the premier DC Metro area network for organization development (OD) practitioners. Founded in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, our name pays homage to those elders who made vital contributions to the field of OD.

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  • 1455 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20004
  • (202) 630-6663
  • admin@cbodn.org
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